Even after finished reading this book, the characters and their situations are still daunting me.I really don't know why.Normally after reading the book i will take 2 to 3 days off and start reading my next book but after this book i started reading the next book immediately because im not able to stop thinking about Kaali (the main character).
I came to know about this author Perumalmurugan through his many short stories specially "நீர் விளையாட்டு ". I too like his essays on Madurai district collector Saagayam . I was very much interested in reading his book "கூளமாதாரி (Seasons of the palm)" but unfortunately or rather fortunately i got this book from India.I read this book mostly during lunch hours and it was a wonderful read, finished the book in 4 days but the thoughts remains till today.
First, the name of the book "மாதொருபாகன்" i never heard this word in Tamil in my life before, i have to accept that.Luckily and thanks to the author, the book itself gives clear explanation for this name.
"Maatorupaakan is one of the name of Lord Shiva,in this idol He appears in Man-Woman combination.The right half is Parvathi Devi and the left half is Lord Shiva, which indicates there is no man without woman, and no woman without man.All are equal."
This is the pre-independence story of Kaali and his wife Ponna in Thiruchengode,Salem district.They were married for 12 years but without child.The author beautifully brings the life in those days,the village settings with its caste hierarchy and farmers day to day activities.Kaali, the young and energetic , was brought up my his mother.Through hard work they were able to sustain the land's goodness and other properties for years.Muthu was his close friend from childhood.Muthu was from next village.They both enjoyed their time together specially Muthu who had a special talent to identify unique places in forests and outskirts.Whenever Kaali visited Muthu's home he took special interest in Ponna.
Ponna ,the sister of Muthu, was the only daughter for her parents.Initially they considered her as lucky charm and she was the one who gave seeds for seeding during seasons.She was beautiful.She too had seen Kaali many times with her brother but she never thought of marrying him.The author reveals at the end about Ponna's infatuation towards Sathi during her teenage days but she was very faithful to Kaali after the marriage.
Both Kaali and Ponna were happy about their life even without children.But the village people made fun and mockery of them.They called them with different names and made their life a struggle specially for Ponna.Every time she went out with neighboring women they treated her as a second class so she set herself alone from the rest of the village women.Kaali too stopped going out with other youths and spend the whole day in farm.
Kaali who loved Ponna so much, did not interested in sending Ponna but on that particular day Muthu took him to the forest and they both drank and slept there itself.Ponna was desperate to have a child,even though she loved Kaali so much she agreed with his parents and went with her mother to the festival and after some search she found Sathi and they both went into the darkness.The novel ends with Kaali woke up in the early morning and went to look for Ponna in her house,finding her house locked, he cried and returns to his farm.
I have so many questions :
1)Will Kaali do suicide ?
2)Will he accepts Ponna ?
3)Will he accepts the child, if Ponna gives birth?
4)Will they have their normal sexual life as before?
Still wondering about these questions and trying to figure out answers.
Both Kaali and Ponna were happy about their life even without children.But the village people made fun and mockery of them.They called them with different names and made their life a struggle specially for Ponna.Every time she went out with neighboring women they treated her as a second class so she set herself alone from the rest of the village women.Kaali too stopped going out with other youths and spend the whole day in farm.
The story takes a turn when Kaali's mother and Ponna's parents along with Muthu decided to force Kaali to allow Ponna to go to the Tiruchengode temple festival.This festival was unique-on the penultimate day of the 15 days feast,women without children and other women go in search of 'saami(சாமி)'.All men on this particular day becomes 'saami(சாமி)' and they can have sexual relationship with any girls ,of course with girl's consent. No one knows no one, so its easy to go ahead without thinking about the community's gossip and if the girl gets pregnant and gives birth the child will be called diety's child(சாமி கொழந்த).
I have so many questions :
1)Will Kaali do suicide ?
2)Will he accepts Ponna ?
3)Will he accepts the child, if Ponna gives birth?
4)Will they have their normal sexual life as before?
Still wondering about these questions and trying to figure out answers.
The author takes us to the festival through his wonderful and lively description.He brings the old Tiruchengode alive with local dialect and culture.Hats off Sir. Most importantly he brings the struggle and community settings of those days in regards to childless couples.I think these kind of treating the childless couples is still relevant in many places of Tamilnadu.Nalluypaiyan chithappa,Muthu and Kaali's grand-father Sadaiyappan are some of the memorable characters in this book.
A great read.
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